furniture item with two surfaces movable in relation to each other

ABSTRACT

A first plate ( 1 ) can be placed on the floor and a second plate ( 7 ) forming the usable surface is engaged with a support ( 3 ) capable of sliding on the first plate, with linear and angular movements.

The invention relates to a furniture item capable of providing variousperformances through simple and easy movements, as well as also offeringagreeable aesthetic aspects.

Said furniture item—which offers a usable flat surface—in substancecomprises a first plate to be placed on the floor, a second plateforming the usable surface, and a support engaged with the second plateand capable of sliding on the first plate. Therefore, linear and angularmovements of the second plate—in the geometric plane thereof—in relationto the first plate are possible. The support has a sufficiently widebase to guarantee stability.

The surface for placing the support on the first plate is advantageouslyprovided with means to facilitate movements of the support on the firstplate, such as omnidirectional wheels, or balls or a layer with lowfriction characteristics in relation to the surface of the first plate.

The two plates can have a similar geometric shape, although it wouldalso be possible for them to have different geometric shapes.

If similar, the two plates can have the same dimensions.

At least the second plate can be transparent—or almost transparent—toallow the support, which can be fashioned according to aestheticrequirements, to be visible.

The invention will be better understood by following the description andaccompanying drawing, which shows various non-limiting possibleembodiments of the invention. In the drawing:

FIGS. 1 to 5 illustrate a structure of the item in question, in a frontview and in plan views, in various positions that can be obtained bymoving the second plate;

FIGS. 6 and 7, and respectively 8 and 9 show two further embodiments ofthe plates, in the plan views both with the two plates in alignment andmisaligned.

According to the illustration, the numeral 1 indicates—in all thevariants exemplified—a first plate, which is intended to be placed onthe floor P. This plate 1 can be transparent or opaque, and made of anymaterial, compatible with aesthetic requirements.

The numeral 3 indicates a support (which can have any shape foraesthetic requirements), which extends sufficiently inferiorly to ensurestability, and is advantageously provided on the inferior surface withmeans—such as balls, omnidirectional wheels or the like—or even simplywith a layer 5 of felt or the like with friction characteristics that inany case allow easy angular and linear movement of the support 3 inrelation to the lower plate 1, on which it is placed. The support 3engages in one piece with the bottom surface of a second plate 7,preferably in a substantially central position.

With regard to the description above, the second (upper) plate 7 iscapable of being moved in the horizontal geometric plane thereof, inrelation to the first plate 1, both linearly and angularly, withpossible limits obtained by means of a perimeter restraining rim in thebottom plate.

In FIG. 2 the two plates (shows by way of example as rectangular and inparticular almost square) are represented identical to each other andpositioned to coincide perfectly. In FIG. 3 the second upper plate 7 ismoved linearly, according to any direction, in FIG. 4 the plate 7 ismoved angularly; in FIG. 5 the plate 7 is moved both linearly andangularly. The presence of wheels of the like or of the layer 5 makesthe various desired movements, which are limited by the extension of thefirst plate 1, very easy.

The two plates 1 and 7 can—advantageously from the aestheticviewpoint—be identical to each other or at least geometrically similar(i.e. they have the same shape but different dimensions). However, itwould also be possible for the two plates to be geometrically different.

Advantageously, at least the second upper plate 7 can be transparent, toallow visibility of the support 3 and of the extent to which it isplaced on the plate 1. The plate 1 can also be transparent, to allowvisibility of the floor or rug on which it is placed.

The plates 1 and 7 are preferably of any shape, the same orgeometrically similar. In FIGS. 6 and 7 a circular shape is shown; inFIGS. 8 and 9 a polygonal shape is shown. The two plates 1 and 7 can beprovided with other shapes—the same or different.

It is understood that the drawing shows aesthetic variants but with thesame concept, provided purely as a practical embodiment of theinvention, which can vary in forms and arrangements without howeverdeparting from the scope of the appended claims.

1. A furniture item offering a usable flat surface, including a firstplate to be placed on the floor, a second plate forming the usablesurface, and a support engaged with the second plate and capable ofsliding on the first plate, thereby allowing movements of the secondplate in the geometric plane thereof.
 2. Furniture item according toclaim 1, wherein the second plate is movable with respect to the firstplate according to linear and angular movements.
 3. Furniture itemaccording to claim 1, wherein the surface with which the support isplaced on the first plate extends to ensure stability and is providedwith devices to facilitate movements of the support on the surface ofthe first plate.
 4. Furniture item according to claim 2, wherein thesurface with which the support is placed on the first plate extends toensure stability and is provided with devices to facilitate movements ofthe support on the surface of the first plate.
 5. Furniture itemaccording to claim 3, wherein said devices are selected from the groupincluding: omnidirectional wheels; pivoting wheels; balls; low frictioncoating; textile layers; non-woven layers; felt layers.
 6. Furnitureitem according to claim 4, wherein said devices are selected from thegroup including: omnidirectional wheels; pivoting wheels; balls; lowfriction coating; textile layers; non-woven layers; felt layers. 7.Furniture item as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first plate has aperipheral retaining rim.
 8. Furniture item as claimed in claim 1,wherein the two plates have a similar geometric shape.
 9. Furniture itemas claimed in claim 8, wherein the two plates have the same dimensions.10. Furniture item as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least said secondplate is transparent or almost transparent.
 11. Furniture item asclaimed in claim 1, wherein that said support is fashioned according toaesthetic requirements.
 12. Furniture item as claimed in claim 2,wherein the first plate has a peripheral retaining rim.
 13. Furnitureitem as claimed in claim 2, wherein the two plates have a similargeometric shape.
 14. Furniture item as claimed in claim 2, wherein atleast said second plate is transparent or almost transparent. 15.Furniture item as claimed in claim 2, wherein that said support isfashioned according to aesthetic requirements.